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PLEASE READ AND C CULATE. 



VINDICATIOI?^ 

OF THE 

MILITARY CHARACTER AND SERVICES 
OF GENERAL FRANKLIN PIERCE, 

BY HIS COxMPANIONS LN' ARMS irv" MEXICO. 



(Called out by the aspersions and innuendoes of a pociign of-tlie."vhig press.) 



Since the nomination of (Janeral 
Franklin Pierce to the Presidency, 
his military character has been wan- 
tonly assailed, his services depreci- 
ated, and his courage, even, called in 
question. Perhaps, of all our citizen- 
soldiers, no man's course was more 
characterized by prudence, patriotism, 
self-disinterestedness, and a firm and 
heroic bravery, than this noble and 
high-minded gentleman. No oflicer 
more commanded the respect or won 
the confidence and affection of his 
brother officers. Endeared to his sol- 
diers by his generous and humane 
conduct — at all tinjes their counsellor 
and friend — sympathizing with merit 
wherever it was to be found, he en- 
joyed the rare felicity of making hosts 
of friends and leaving no enemy in 
that band of heroes vvrho, under Gen. 
Scott, achieved the second conquest 
of Mexico. These are the men who, 
,as one man, have risen to vindicate 
his character, by their united and con- 
clusive testimony ; without concert, 
without regard to political associa- 
tions—most of them the ardent ad- 
mirers of General Scott — their voices 
have been heard from all sections of 
the country, and the malevolent pur- 
poses of a base party press hkve been 
completely fru>:irated. This pamph- 
let gives characteristic selections from 
the immense mass of testimony. Ofii- 
cers of the highest rank, stafi' olncers 
of the geueral-in chief, and other offi- 



cers^^hosezeaf, 'activity, and intelli- 
gence in no small degree contributed 
to the result, have here spoken. It 
remains to be seen whether the whole 
country will not frown down all at- 
tempts to asperse a true man's char- 
acter, and Yvall not pronounce him 
worthy of its highest honors. 

The articles in the Boston Post 
are from the pen of P> revet Major Isaac 
1. Stevens, an officer of engineers, 
who served in the staff of General Scott 
m his Mexican campaign, and was 
twice brevetted by the government. 
They give a connected view of Gen- 
oral Pierce's services throughout the 
campaign. 

No. 1. 

To the. senvrr Editor of the Boston Post. 

Washngton, J«nc 10, 1852. 

Dt:ARSiR: in accordance wiih my promise to 
you ;n Wasliington, I will sta^e what I know of 
Genera! Pien e's military services and character in 
Mexico. I shall only have to sState what 1 have 
repeatedly said to mutual friends the Ja.st four 
years. 1 had no personal acqujiniance with Gen- 
eral Pierce till I met him m Mexico. Our ac- 
quainiance has its date from the battle-field of 
Contreras, wheie 1 was a.'^sociated on duty with 
his command, and where it was particularly my 
good fortune to make the acquaintance of our own 
i';allant J\ew Eng and te;^iment, the Uiii intdntiy, 
commanded by tne intrepid sn.i laniented Ran- 
som. From that day to this, the fame of that 
rrgiment lias bcnn dear to me, and puuicularly the 
fame of General Pierce, the brigade comim.nMer of 
the regiment, its ftr.st colcnc!, and cne who by 
voice and hand cotitributed so largely to raising 
it axi'l sendir.g it to the field. 

What I shall say of General Pierce will not rest 
upon ra ' individual testimony, but will simp]y ex- 



9. 



W^^ 



'I convictions of every man in that gallant 
-Mv. .,ho knev General Pierce, from General 

■ol; 'lo \vn to the private soldiers, who found in 
wieii ':'0'r'.-:ander, PirrcefacounsellLr fi-d fritiid — 
one \vlio .'^niooihe'i .iie pillow of disfafe,arid pour- 
ed oil vpon the deep wounds of battle. Gen- 
eral ^V !, in all his dcppatchis, refers lo Gt neral 
Pierce in terms of the warmest comnientisiion, 
and in appointing him one of ilie con.niisKicaiers 
to arrange the aimisiice, gave hi.s tmphatic testi- 
nifny to his ciiaracter aiid services. AVtll do i 
know, that if an insane and wicked party press 
shall slander his good name in connexion with his 
military pervices, it will carry unspeakable f^orrow 
and disgust to the hetirtcf ourccmnion-renountd 
conunander, General Scott. The mutual l.'iend- 
&hip and confidence which sprung up between 
these two men in JVlexico has continued to tliis 
day. Each has delighted, on al! )iroper occasions, 
to do justice to the other. Sliou'd General Scott 
be the whig candidate for the piesidency, the 
country will be gratified with the spectacle of two 
of its noble sons, themselves devoted friends, being 
the respective standard bearers of the two great 
patties. It will, indeed, under such circumstances, 
be a contest of bcnor, in which, on both sides, 
nothing but laurels will be won. 

I well jeinember General Pierce's arrival at 
Puebla with our lost reinforcemnits, 2,500 men. 
Our eyes were fixed on iViexico. The order had 
bten given for the march. Vv^'e had already heard 
liovif v/ell that command had been eonducitd fiom 
the linta caUev.te to the plains of Ptrote, through 
a country swarming with enemies. The brid^'c of 
the Plan del Rio had been broken down, and L'od- 
fish, of Maine, was already known to the whole 
army as having suggef ted and executed a Li!V.;/le 
expedient which enabled the command to crt^ss 
the stream without loc-s. At the JNotional Bridge 
it was known that Pierce, at the hci.d of !iis com- 
mand, cool and collected, under a shower of bul- 
lets, had forced the enemy's stronghold with but 
iittle loss to his command. His atttniion to the 
various wants of his men, his vigilance by day 
and by night, his skill in avsiling himself of the 
experience of his atafi', his uciform good sense and 
Lis unobtrusive n:odesty, went before him, and 
liad alrcfcdy won golden opinions for him. Jn- 
dttd, we were tolu tliat frequently at night he 
came into camp on foot, his horse having been 
yielded to some kelle soldier. He seemed to 
iiBve but one desire, and that v/as entirely to do j 
hie duty to his country and the iiidividual men j 
of his command. | 

'lhus,cn his arrival at Puebla, alter a rapid and j 
succcsslul niarch, during the hot £e^.^;on and under i 
untoward circunriEtarces, he was warmly greeted, j 
and drew the highest encomiums from theger.cral- | 
in-chief; and the coiTiinand was in such good con- [ 
diticn that the next n.orriing ihe advance, under 
the veteran Twiggs, con.menced the movemtni 
upon the capital. 

Yours, &.C., I. I. S. 

No. 2. 
To the sniior Editor of ike Boslcn Fost. 

Washington, June 11, 1852. 
Dear Sip. : In my letter of yesterday I closed 
with Picree'3 arrival in Puebla, and liie coi.se- 



qncnt advance of the army upon the capita!, t 
need not go- into details. V/e entered ihe valley, 
moved round Chalco, forced liie cnirenched camp 
at Contrcras, wen the splendid victory of Churu- 
busco, ehd had Mexico at our feet. From the 
first movement against Contreras, in some thirty- 
two hours the enemy's force was scattered, and, 
as we then hoped, the great object of the cam- 
paign gained. 

In these operations the brigade of Pierce shared 
in the flank movemients upon Contreras er^d nobly 
did its duty. The operations of the Wth have 
been much misunderstood. Tlie plan, from the 
outset of the battle, was to amuse the enemy in 
front by a bold demonstration, and, ur.der cover 
of it, 10 despatch a force Hgainst their left flank, 
which, occupy irg strong villages and t!;e roads to 
the city, would cut them off from ail reinforce- 
ments, r>nd thus place them entirely at our mercy. 
This p'an was pursued, though the movement 
upon the read and villages was not prosecuted 
with all the disposable force with the piomptness 
that could have been desired. The sisff cfiicers in 
the front, fully appreciating the necessity of vigor- 
ous mtaeures to drive back the skirmishers to the 
camp, and to completely deceive the enemy, .re- 
commended a very bold course. Guns and men 
were put-hed forward v.'ilh all the fierceness and 
unflinching constancy of a real attack. The al- 
most irnpiacticable character of the ground is well 
known. Tiie whole field was a volcanic rock of 
honey-comb projection, lising into sharp pcintsat 
eveiy turn and making it very difKcult for strong 
men to make their way. Our troops were delayed 
but not deterred by these dililculiies. First Smith 
and then Pieice were sent to the' front simulta- 
neously with Rik-y and Cadwplader to the flank 
and rear. Both Smith and Pierce brf.ught tip 
their commands in admit able order. The skir- 
mishers weie in great force in the pedregal, and 
resisted our advance v/iih grca^ vigor and confi- 
dence. The splendid pieces of Valencia from the 
entrenched camp Mere sending balls and shells 
through our ranks. Well do I remember their 
haish and liissiiig accents, of all things calculated 
to teriify and diEmay new troops. 

At liiis moment, in face of the skirm.ishcrs, and 
in view of the camp, with its well-served artillery,. 
Pierce brought up his brig&de, the iVew England 
legiment, led by Ransom, in the advi^nce. It was. 
their first e.=say in the valley. Asa New England 
man I lejoiced in tlieir noble conduct as they 
lushed thrcrgh the stoim of fire, passing near the 
position of tiie batteries and driving ihc enemy's 
skirmishers before them. Without a pause in the 
attack, they forced the enemy from point to point,, 
drove him into his camp, crossed ihemselves the 
stream fiuwing near its front, and look a position 
within three hundred yards of the main force of 
the enemy. This bold, unflinching, and most gal- 
lant movement did miuch to caute the enemy to 
concentrate all his troops in the c&mp, fixed his 
attention upon the front attack, and whs a vital 
element in the success of the great flank move- 
micnt and real sttack against the rear of the enemy. 

Pierce led his command most gallas'tly; but, 
pressing epgerly to the front, still mounted, hi.T 
horse became restive under the lieavy fire, plunged 
violently, and tlirev/ him heavily to the ground 
upon the siiarp rocks, and injured him so severely 
as to disable him for a time to continue v.'ith his 



«> 



command. He refers to it in Lis i filcial report, 
and it was simply one of the many numerous acci- 
dents on lliat field. Many strcFi^j men .fainted 
from sheer exhaustion. Two other general offi- 
cers, Pillow and Twiggs, were ur-b'e to follow 
their commanr's. Twigg-s was badly Hurt by fall- 
ing into one of the holes in the rocks, whilst rrak- 
irg hi.-s way on foot, and neither of them was 
able to y',\n his command till after the crowning 
victory of the next morniiig. Pieice's command, 
however, passed the right on the field in front of 
the camp, and Pierce passed the night with it. 

I will Kserve t® taiother paper .'cme account of 
the operations of the 20th, only ob.-crvirg tliat, at 
nightfall en the 19th, alihongh the enemj' had 
not been driven from his camp, we had gained 
positions surely placing the victory in our hands. 
Amid the pelting storms of the afternoon and 
night, wiih loss of food and sleep, our men did 
look forward with some anxiety to ;he day. But 
no stain of misconduct resttd on a single officer or 
man, and each had made the firm resolve to do all 
and dare all for his country. 

Yours, I. I. S. 

No. 3. 
To the lenicr Editor of ihe Eos'o7i Post. 

Washington, Juni'. 15, 1852. 

Dkar Sir: At the close of my second number 
I left our troops at bivouac on the field otICon- i 
treras. Pierce, ihough badly injured and in great 
sufTeiing, was in front in the midst of his com- 
mand, and the brigades of Riley, Shields, Smitli { 
and Cadwaiadcr were in the villages and on the ; 
road leading to the city of Mexico. From this ' 
strong position Smith, tv) whom the command had I 
been most magnanimously yielded by his senior, j 
Shields, in consequence of his having preceded j 
him on the ground, and knowing from personal 
observation more of the field, determined to attack j 
the entrenched camp before daylight in the morn- 1 
ing, and break the whole of Valencia's command 
into pieces before succor could be brought. The i 
camp was to be reconnoitred, the paths thereto j 
marked, and the troops led out in the night. The i 
rain was still falling in torrents. Scarcely a man [ 
had had food or sleep. The ofncers of engineers 
and of the staff groped their way with their hands, 
the path so slippery that they were constantly I 
thrown upon the ground, and they marked the 
route by cutting down the maguey plant which i 
iinerl the wayside. They conducted the troops 
by feeling their way along the cut megueys with 1 
their hands. Such were the difiiculties in organ- j 
izing the attack in the village. On the front, | 
orders were received from General Scott soon after i 
midnight — who knowing thu fact.s of the whole 
field — tho meditated atta. k of Smith and the reso- 
lution of his troops — the good spirits of the men 
in fiont under P.erce — and who, in consequence, 
looked forward with calm confidence to a glorious 
victory — to organize the command, and be ready 
to cooperate in the attack on the caaip. 

Pierce had, after nightfall, withdrawn his troops 
from their a':ivanced position on the rivuh^t, and in 
the pedregal, where they were necessarily much 
scattered, to near tlie base of the hill, where they 
were brought together and put m order to pass the 
night, and be ready for ihe duties of the morrow. 



These troops, the 9ih and J2th infantry, scat- 
tered bodies of the rifles and other commands, 
were conducted back slowly and painfully over 
the pedregal to the stream occupied by them the 
previous day, and were at dawn in readiness for 
the attack; This movement was |. fsor.a'ly coi:- 
I ducted by Ransom, Pierce not having the physical 
j strf ygih, from the injuries of the previous day, to 
I make his way through tlie rock;-. It must be re- 
j membered that this movemen' was made ia the 
j (lark, in the midst of rain, over sharji and slippery 
rocks, and one like that accomplished by 8mitb, 
I deerr.ed by the rnemy to be utterly impracticable. 
[ Thus at dayliglit, and s'rugi;ling with such 
j difticultirs, our irorps reached their positions and 
the attack v»ag made. In seventeen shoit minutes 
the entrenched camp and large numbers of pris- 
.oners were in our haiids. The whole command 
of Valencia was rntirtly broken iiuo pieces. Riley 
in the fierce sloim of the camp, Cadwalader and 
Dimick (temporarily commanding Smith's brig- 
I ade) in support, Shields holding the vilhiges, and 
j Fierce in front, fiist holding the attention of the 
I enemy, thus carrying out the ideas of the previous 
I day, and afterwards participating in the fight, all 
; gloriously did their duty and art; entitled to the 
j gratitude of their country. 

j The spirit and enthusiasm of the army now 
[ rose to tlie culminating point,; fatigue was no 
longer felt; the sick and feeble man became for 
the time well and strong; the anxious bivouac 
and the toils of the pedregal were forgotten. All 
eyes turned towards the ciiy of Mexico; all hearts 
burned Ui pursue the enemy Lnd strike the great 
blow of the war. 

Yours, I. I. S. 

No. 4. 
To the S£!iior Editcr of the Boston Post. 

VrAsniNGTON, June 18, 1852. 
Dear Sir : The great blow of the war was now 
to be struck. The spontaneous and irresistible 
impulse of ten thousand men in arms was prompt- 
ly availed of by the commander-in-chief, and by 
commanders of all grades. Shields, Twiggy, Pil- 
low, Smi'h, Pierce, Cadwalader, and RilejE, all 
at the head of their respective commands, urged 
on our troops. Worth also put his division in 
movement in front of S.<.n Antonio, and, afier dis- 
persing its retreating garrison, tiiree tliousnnd 
strong, pressed forward on the high road to Mex- 
ico. It was no time for groping reconnaissances, 
or nice calculations as to the circumstances of the 
ground. The victors of Contreras drove the ene- 
my through San Angel and Coyacan, and its 
advance, under Twiggs, uniting with Worth, 
attacked with such terrible energy the enemy 
retreating through the s'rong position of Churu- 
busco, that there the enemy was compelled to 
make his final stand, some miles from the city. 
In a few moments the roar of cannon and the in- 
cessant rattling of musketry developed the whole 
field, and immediately the genera!-in-chief threw 
his reserves into the action. First Pierce and then 
Shields were sent to attack the enemy's right and 
rear, to relieve the front attack, and cut off the 
enemy's retreat upon the capital. It was the 
grand strategic movement of' the field. Pierce, 
"just able to keep the saddle," in suffering and 
anguish from the accident of the previous day. 



and only fit for a tick bed, at the head of hia com- ' 
mand steadily pursued his way. It was through 
thick corn, over wide ditches fdltd with water, 
and mnrshy ground. Tiie day was oppressively 
hot No actor in that f.eld will ever forget the 
desperation with which it was conte.sted, or the 
awful and inceseant tliunders of the fight. On tlie 
front the shouts of the assailants and defenders 
iningled in hoarse tones of defiance. For two 
iiours the contest was maintained with equal 
hand, and no serious inripits.sion was made upon 
tin: enemy's line till the decisive and fplendid 
iiank movement of Pierce and Shields distrac'ed 
his attention, and compelled him to change his 
■order of battle. 

It is not my design logo into details. Suffice 
it to riay that after extraordinary exertions and 
expeneiioing great loss, the whole reserve, under 
the command of Shields, drove back the over- 
whelming force of the enemy, and relieved all 
pans of the fi-Jd Worth jomed his victorious 
troops with Shield.'^, the convent .soon hJd out 
the white flag, and the city and valley of Mexico 
lay at our feet. 

The foregoing narrative wiH show the important 
part assigned to Pierce at the head of the reserve 
to decide the fortunes of the day. It is surprisin^^ 
that in his feeble condit.on he should have undei- 
taken to lead his troops and struggle with tiie dif- 
ficulties of the ground. He, however, boldly led 
them into the presence of the enemy, and, endea- 
voring to make his way on foot, fell faint and 
exhausted under ihe heavy fire of that field. But 
his friends rejoiced tliat he had strength enough 
to do a noble, gallant, and important part. The 
impress'ion which he made upon the army at this 
time V ill best be shown by the following quotations 
from the official reports : 

General Scott says in his report of the batile of 
Chv.7-ubv.sco : 

"Accordingly the two advanced divisions and 
Shields's brigade marched from Contreras, under 
the immediate orders of Major General Pillow, 
who was now joined by the gallant Brigadin Gf.n- 
eral Fierce, of his divis^ion, personally thrown out 
of activity, late the evening before, by a severe 
hurt received from the fall of his horse." * * 

"Next (but all in ten minutes) I sent Pierce, 
•(ju.st able to keep his saddle,) with his brigade, 
(Pillow's division,) conducted by Capt. Lee, engi- 
neer, by a third road, a little farther to our left, to 
attack the enemy's right and rear, in order to favor 
the movement u]5on the convent, and cut off the 
retreat towards the capital. And, finally. Shields, 
senior brigadier to Pierce, with the New York and 
South Carolina volunteers (Quitman's division,) i 
was ordered to foilow Pierce closely, and to take I 
command of our left wing. | 

".'2// these movtvunts were made with the niincst j 
aiaciiiy by our ^'aliant troops and coramandeis." 

« » 4 K it * * 

" ft has been stated that some two Jiours and a 1 
half before, Pitrce, followed closely by the volun- 
teer brigade — both under tlie command of Briga- 
dier General Shields — had been detached to our 
left to turn the enemy's works, to prevent Ihq 
escape of llie gar;isons, and to oppose the exten- 
sion of ihe enemy's numerous corps from the rear 
upon and around our left. 



"Considering the inferior numbers of the ttvo 
brigades, the objects of the movement were diffi- 
cult to accomplish." * * * a 

"The battle was long, hot, and varied ; but ul- 
timately success crowned the Zf^al and gallanh-y of 
our troops," &c. * » * * 

" Brigadier General Pierce, from the hurt of the 
evening before, under pain and exhaustion, fainted 
in the action." 

"Several other changes of command occurred 
on this field." =•:***« 

General Worth, in his report, says : 
"The division comiiiander cannot forego the 
opportunity pre.-ented to acknowledge his obliga- 
tions and express his admiration of the gallant 
bearing of Major General Pillow and Brigadier 
Generals Shields, Cadwalader, and Pierce, with 
whom he had the gratification of concert and co- 
operation at various critical periods of the con- 
flict." 

General Pillow, in his report of this battle, says: 

"During this movement I met with Colonels 
Ransom and Morgan's regiments, 12th infantry, 
under Capt. Wood, and the howitzer battery, un- 
der Lieut. Reno, parts of my division, forming 
General Pitrcc's brigade, which had been moved 
by order of the general-in-chief, under cotnmand 
of General Pierce, against a large body of the ene- 
my to the right and rear of the main work, when 
they had been, in conjunction with Shields's bri- 
gade, engaged in a fierce, open field fight with a 
large force. 

^'General Pie?ce, though still suffering severely 
from his injury of the preceding day, had, never- 
theless, been on duty, and in contnumd of his brigade, 
during Ihe day, and until a kw moments before, 
when he had fainted from pain and exhaustion, 
and been carried from Ihe field.'''' * * * 

"I cannot withhold the expression of my sense 
of the deep obligations I am under for the success 
and honor due to my command, to my (u\) briga- 
dier generals, (Shields and Pierce,) whose jirompti- 
tiide, skiil, and daring were equal to every emergen- 
cy, and who, in the absence of discipline in their 
commands, met and overcame every obstacle, and 
led en their commands to honcr and d'tslinclicn.''^ 
**«*•/** 

The above extracts show clearly Gen. Pierce's 
stHnding in the army at that time. Great regret 
was expressed at his unfortunate accident, but 
great admiration for the noble manner in which 
he. bore tiimself under it. His appointment as one 
of the commissioneis to arrange the armistitic was 
considered as exceedingly judicious and highly 
merited. It gove universal satisfaction. 
Yours, 

1. I. S. 

No. 5. 
To lite ser\icT Editor of ihe Boslcn Post. 

Washington, June 4, 1S52. 
DiiAR Sir : The armistice failed, and resort was 
again had to arms. The bloody field of jMolino 
and the pvotrtcted struggle ior the chy attested 
how rapidly the enemy had lallied from his defeat 
and the prowess and constancy of American 
troops. At Molino 3,000 Americans, under the 
gallaiit ajid lamented Worth, drove 14,000 Mesi- 



cans from their chosen position into and unrtec 
cover of Chepultepcc. \Vhat by Geners.] Scotr. 
\va« expected to have been a s'.ii^ht brush, proved 
to b3 the most terrible confl'.ct of the wir, imd the 
brigades of Pierce nnd Riiey were ordered up to 
support it. Thns General Scott, in his report, 
states: ''* * But the battle was won just a? 
Brigadier General Pierce reached the ground and 
interposed his corps between Garland's brigade 
(Worth's division) and the retrea'ing enemy." 

This gave offence to Worth, as intimating that 
without Pierce hia own coinmand would not have 
maintained the field ; v/hereas the particular ex- 
pression grew out of the gallant manner in v/iiich 
Pierce brought his command to its assigned posi- 
tion, and which was observed Iiy Scott from a 
commanding position, where he overlooked the 
whole field. Within three days officers in this 
city, of the old ai'my, have spoken of it with 
great admiration. Two, who accompanied Pierce 
to his position, sneak of his extraordinary cool- 
ness and composure as a shell came screaming 
from Chenultepec through the ranks of his com- 
mand. From its direction every one feared that 
It would strike Pierce, and kill both him and his | 
horse. Flappily no one was injured. 

In the final operations about Chepultepec it was i 
necessary, as a preliminary step, to rsoccupy the 
field of Molino, and in that position to plant bat- i 
teries against Chepultepec. Our troops had been } 
withdrawn iVorn the position since the batile of the j 
8th. Pillov/'s division, Cad^v ily.dcr's and Pierce's , 
brigades, were ordered to drive the enemy fom ! 
it, and hold it against whatever force might be , 
brought against them. The order was gallantly j 
executed ; but the enemy liad been previously | 
withdrawn. Pierce marched out v/ith his com- 1 
mand early in the morning of the 12ih September, i 
and though scarcely able to move a step, from his ' 
enfeebled condition, grov/ing out of his great ex- | 
ertions in bringing up his command at Puebia, • 
and from fatigue and exposure at Contreras and 
Churubusco, he remained in the field till mid-day, 
when the batteries were playing upon Chepulte- 
pec, and when it wa? certain that no further ac- 
tive operations would be prosecuted during the 
day. He then reluctantly returned to the quarters 
of General Worth, in the village of Tacuhaya, 
a short distance only from the tiM, so prostrated 
that he was not able to leave his bed for some 
thirty-six hours. It is one of the saddest expe- 
riences to a gallant and patriotic soldier to be pre- 
vented by sickness, wounds, or infirmity, iVoni 
sharing the glories and dangers of the battle-field 
wiih his companions in arms. Twiggs was thus 
throv^n oi;t of the earlier operations at J.Ionterey ; 
Persifor F. Smith at Cerro G.irdo ; the gallant 
Colonel C. F. Smith — perhaps the model soldier 
of tlie old army — from Molino. So with Pierce. 
I have often conversed with Worth's officers in 
relation to Pierce. Attracted by h^s frank and 
cordial tnanners, they esteemed liim for his manly 
and disinterested character, and had unbounded 
confidence in his prudence, judgment, and gal- 
lantry. They speak of his despondency at not 
being able to lead his men in the last great battle 
of the valley. But he felt in a measure consoled 
irom the reflection that his own gallant staff-offi- 
cers were in the field, and that his intrepid friend 
Ransom — his first choice to command the New 
England regiment — was to lead them. Alas ! 



poor Ransom. Not only a bright ornament to 
his own New England, but to the v;hole coun- 
try — one of the noblest and b' st .':o!dicr.s in t'^at 
iTiemorable campiign— leading bis regiment wr.h 
consummate skill, and pressing forward with hie 
usual ardor, he was shot through tke head, antJ 
fell a williiig sacrifice to his country. 

This is not the place to d.iscribe how Chepulte- 
pec yielded to the firm, unyieliling and enthu^tJas- 
tic assault of our troops under Pillov/ and 0,uit- 
ip.an, or how Gluitman and Worth, on the two 
ffr^at canseways of approach, drove the enemy 
into the city and took possession of the gates of 
Beien and oE Cosme. The resistance at both 
points was stern and protracted. Santa Ana was 
in the front ranks, cheering on and leading his 
men at every point of danger. It is due to his ex- 
traordinary gallantry and exertion that, at night- 
fidl, he retained posses.^ion of the city. Q,iiitman, 
afcr-r securing the Bclcii gats at half-past one 
o'clock, was "obliged to cover his troops the re- 
mainder of the day. He could not move a step 
under the pitiless and terrible fire of the citadel. 
Worth occupied one square within the Cosine 
gate, strong and easily definsibie buildings being 
still in the hands of the enemy to repel his further 
progress. 

In these positions our troops passed the night. 
Both duitman and Worth made preparations to 
storm the city in the morning. Q,uitman strength- 
ened and enlarged his batteries wi h the determi- 
nation to batter and storm the citadel. Pierce at 
his solitary quarters, towards dark, learned from 
Captain Hardcastle, iust from Worth, whose roon* 
he occupied, how affairs stood, and that the finaf 
struggle for the mastery in the valley would take 
place the next morning. " The city will be storm- 
ed and the final victory of the war will be achieved 
to-morrow," says Hardcastle. "I will then join 
my command immediately," replied Pierce, and 
he got up ani attempted to dress himself. Hard- 
castle, however, remonstrated and ur^ed him to 
remain in bed till morning to save his strength,, 
' saying to him that hia scr-'ices would not be n ied- 
i ed till then. He acquiesced, and learned frona 
I Hardcastle the further particular.? of the field. 
' The greater portion of his own brigade wr.s with 
I Q,aitman, a portion with "Worth. Ciuitman's po- 
i siiion under the fire of the citadel was one of vastly 
1 more danger and difficulty than Worth's. The 
[ square within the garita occupied by Worth led at 
'■ once into the heart of the city, and his advance 
! by the slow process of the miner was certain. 
' Ciuitman cou'd only assault the citadel by pass-^ 
I ing over an open space, and the citadel itself 
j was separated from the adjacent suburb of tlie 

; Pierce in the course of the night joined Ciuit- 
man, in readiness for the morn. It is true that 
commis.?ioners pass-d through Worth's command 
j in the night, and anr.ouncetl to General Scott at 
I Tacubaya that the city was evacuated. But this 
v/as known to very few persons in the army, and 
! as General Scott refu.sed to listen to the terms prx)- 
I posed by the commissioners, these few feared the 
' army would return and do battle for the city. 
I At dawn, therefore, Ctuitman made his arrange- 
I ments to commence the attack, and it wa.a not till 
i broad daylight that, by personal observation, he 
! discovered that the citadel had been abandoned. 
' He pushed on v/ith hia command, and soon seized 



6 



the National Palace, and hoisted thereon our own 
glorious stars and Etripe?. 

During the day a desultory street fight v/as kept 
up, many officers and men were killed and wound- 
f"], and not til! the night of the i4ih was the city 
cc»iii:.^i>.tt>y it'- ui;i- 1, aiids. 

' [li the final i.pei-ation. , therefore, Pierce led his 
command lo the Tiold ((/ Vlolino, where a severe 

-ntefii wtiM cxpecied, and remained on the ground 
. I'l it wa.'J certuin tb-e aUack would not be made 
■)1! the following day; iw'. after confinement, from 
utter prostration, to l::-i cick bed for thirty-six 
hours, he joined in the night his command at the 
point of greatest dilHculty and danger, when on all 
sides the final battle was expected to come off. It 
redounds especially to his credit, and ahows his 
gallantry and resolution, his assuming the com- 
mand of his brigade at these two critical junctures. 
I sha'l reserve to my sixth and la^i article a 
summary of the five articles which 1 have pre- 
pared, with some general observations. 

Yours, i. !• S. 

No. 0. 
To the senior Edilor of the Boston Post. 

Washington, Jiily 1, 1852. 
In the view which 1 have presented of General 
Pierce'.s services in iVlexico, 1 have ei:deavored to 
grasp briefly the whole field of operations, so tiiat 
your readers mi.jht see for themselves that Gen. 
Pierce's part wa/not unimportant, and that on all 
occasions his conduct was marked by great gal- 
lantry and true-heaj-ted devotion to his country. I 
will now recapitulate his s'u-s^ices in thi?; closing 
number of the series, and will conclude with some 
general observations. 

General Pierce landed at Vera Cruz in June. 
There, after the most indefatigable exertions for 
three week.-^, during the hot and exhausting sea- 
son of the yellowVever, he succeeded in organiz- 
ing his trains and commenced his march into the 
nterior in July widi our last reinforceraent, 2,500 
men. The intervening country was filled with 
guerillas. The bridges were broken down. Yet, 
by great prudence aiitl good judgment, he kept up 
the di.'icipline and health of his troops and made 
good marches every day. At the National Bridge 
ho was conspicuous for his great gallantry, and at 
that and at all points he promptly dispersed the 
guerillas with but little loss to his command. On 
his arrival in Puebla he was hailed with joy by 
the whole army, who av/arded to him and his rnf^u_ 
the character of veteran? for the steadiness of 
their conduct under such hazardous and trying' 
circumstances. 

In the niEij?stic movemr^nt on Mexico, in the 
toilsome march round Chalco, and in the brilliant 
achievements at the south and west of the city, 
Pierce uniformly managed his command with 
judgment, and inspired ^his men and the army 
with confidence in hia capacity and resources. 

At Conireras, ordered up as a sur.port against 
the front, he took the lead, drove the enemy into 
his carrip, and maintained an advance position for 
many hours, winning the admiration of all men by 
the gallantry and vigor of the movement. Tnough 
badly hurt, he continued in command of his brig- 
ade throughout the day and night, and slept on 
the field with it. At Churubusco he conducted 
the great slratc-gic movement again.n the right 



and rear of the enemy — a movement that was to 
decide the fortunes of the day, and where over- 
whelming odds were to be encountered and beaten. 
This movement he nobly led, though enfeebled'to 
the last degree and scarcely able to keep his seat. 
Fie took his command int) action, gave his men 
an example of conduct in his own person, and, 
whilst making his way on foot, fell to the ground, 
unable to move a single step. It wa-? an act of 
heroism, his venturing at all into the field in hia 
sick and weak condition. But such things were 
common with that whole band of heroes. The 
idea was, our la.st breath and all our remaining 
strength for our country. 

ilisappointmentas commissioner to arrange the 
terms of the armistice illustrates the estimation in 
which he was held. These appointments are con- 
sidered in the highest degree honorary, and they 
have a significa'nce not to be measured by the 
magnitude or difficulty of the duties involved in 
them. The intelligence, the valor and the charac- 
ter of the whole army a;c to be represented in the 
persons of its commissioners. 

At Molino, at Chepultepcc, and at the Belen 
gate. Pierce acted a characteristic part. At Molino 
he brought his command to its position under the 
fire of ChcpuUepec, and with a coolness and gal- 
lantry which inspired his whole command. He 
left his sick bed to be present at the earlier_ opera- 
lions against Chepultepec, and when obliged to 
retire from the field from utter prostration, he left 
his bed again in the middle of the night and re- 
paired em'phatically to the point of danger, to take 
part in what was supposed would be the last and 
crowningand most perilous act of the great drama. 
The raenton the part of Pierce was not less that 
the eniimy had evacuated the city, and that the 
remaining operations were nothing but street 
fights. It is uneontroverted and incontrovertible 
that he joined auilman hours before dawn, ex- 
pecting a great battle was to come oflf, and Q,uit- 
man, in his official report, acknowledges the fact 
with many thanks. 

Thus it will be seen, not only that Pierce was on 
all occasions gallant and judicious, but that he 
was eminently disinterested and regardless of per- 
sonal toils and sacrifices. He would not let un- 
toward accidents drive him from the field. He 
would lead his command to the post of danger 
when most men would have gone to their beds. 
And he would leave his sick bed, although hia 
friends advised and beseeched him to the contrary, 
in order to be at his post at thesR critical mo- 
ments, when the fate of event?3 Was to be decided. 
But there jgi a loss bri'Hant, yet more touching 
' and interesting view to bo taken of General Pierce'^ 
services. I refer to his unceasing cara and atten- 
tion to his sick and wounded men. Not only did 
he give liberally of his means to provide for their 
wants, but he bestowed his time and spared noth- 
ing which would alleviate their hard lot. Perhaps 
of\ill the qualities which lead to great achieve- 
ments, this noble humanity is the very first. Men 
will die for those they love. Discipline, to be in 
the highest degree efficient, should both be a spon- 
taneous impulse of the heart and rest on principle. 
A chief should make it his determination to pos- 
sess the love and esteem of every tuan under his 
command, by disinterestedness and entire devotion 
to them. He must be their friend— their father. 
Soldiers are in some respecis very much lik^ chil- 



dren. They have a child's faith in men deserving 
of it, and they will follow a beloved commmder 
through all perils, and will achieve all bat impas- 
sibilities. 

All persons who knew General Pierce in Mexico 
know how war.nly he attached iiis men to him, 
and how admirably he di^3chal•n;ed this crowning 
duty of a commnnder, Tiie affectionate welcnms 
that was extended to hiai on his return ho.Tie was 
a natural conseqaence of the nolj'.e di.nnlerested- 
nes3 he had shown away from home. 

1 will mw dwell on certain general facts in Gen- 
eral Pierce'^ course during the Mexican v/ar which 
caused ma to value highl-/ his opinions and to cher- 
ish his friend:^hip. They grew out of that 
thorough ma.iliness, disi'itere^tedne^s, anl mod- 
esty, which have marked his whole course in 
life. 

It seems to have been a guiding principle v/ith 
General Pierce ii strive to see things as they really 
were — to share in the prejudices of none, neither 
to attach himself to clique? nor to have a clique of 
his own — and to do justice to and deserve the con- 
fidence of all. Thus, having found that certain 
views which he had entertiined in relation to the 
Military Academy and the regular officers were un- 
founded, he hastened to vindicate both, and on all 
occasions took pleasure in acknowledging his mis- 
take. He soon became sitisfied that he had not 
appreciated the great qualities 6f General Scott. 
On his return home he vindicated the service:^ and 
characterofthat illustrious com-nander. Yet whilst 
admiring and doing justice to Scott, he could but 
deplore that general order which led to the prefer- 
ment of charges against Worth and Pillow, and 
which finally caused the President to relieve Gen- 
eral Scott from the commnnd of the army. 

Wortli was a gallant soldier and an able cnm- 
mander. Pillow, with all his impulse and over- 
confidence, was fast rising as an able military man, 
and in the last conflict did signal service, and Pierce 
appreciated and did justice to the services of both. 
This beau'iful and strong trait of his character, 
enabling him to discern merit in spite of clashing 
cliques and discordant interests, which made 
him solicitous that justice should be done to all, 
and which made htm careless of himself, coald 
not but have commanded the conSdeace and won 
the affection of his compa'iions in arms. You can 
readily unJerstand, Mr Editor, why the old army 
are attached to him and will vindicate his fame. 
He has done justice to them ; he has bsrne testi- 
mony to the services and character of their illus- 
trious chief, and they, including that chief, no'W 
his friendly rival for the first place in all this 
world, wid do justice to him. 

His services in Mexico have served to make 
known to the whole country those traits of char- 
acter which have secured the unbounded affection 
of the peoole of his own State, atii which so emi- 
nently fit him for the chief place. This coming 
presidential contest is not between the soldier 
Pierce and the soldier Scoct, fir S:ott's reputation 
ia deservedly world-wide, and may he to the end 
of a long life continue to adorn his high post of 
the chief of the army. Pierce's military services 
are but a laurel in his beautiful civic wreath — a sac- 
rifice of patriotism on the altar of his country — a 
crowning fact in a life of distinguished civil ser- 
vice. 

Y'ours, &c., I. I. S. 



Colonel Smithy the writer of the fol- 
lowing letter, was fifteen years a resi- 
dent of the city of Mexico before the 
war. He was the Good Samaritan to 
our captured oiTieers and soldiers, and 
as snch made himself obno?:ious to 
th? Mexican authorities. He succeed- 
ed, after great danger and privation, 
in escaping from the city of Mexico 
and joining the army in Pnebla, and 
there he was of invaluable assistance 
in furnishing information as to the 
route to, and the resources of, the 
Mexican capitval. In the march to^ 
and in the operations about, the city, 
he was exceedingly useful as an aid 
to the general-in-chief, and was con- 
spicuous for his gallantry. Colonel 
Smith was well known to all the actors 
in the operations in the valley of Mex- 
ico, and his name is ever mentioned 
by them in terins of respect and ad- 
miration. 

[From the Bo:!toii Courier, (w!iig.)] 

GiLM\NTo.\-, N. H., June 24, 1852. 
You are probably aware that at the commence- 
ment of the war with Mexico I had been more 
than fifteen years a resident of the city of the 
,\ztecs. Daring the w^r I was twice expelled 
ff'im the city, the suspicions of the government 
having been awakened and its displeasure incurred 
in consequence of the manner in which I treated 
Alnjor Gaines, Major Borland, and the other Eo- 
carnacion prisoners. Immediately after the second 
order for my expulsion, desiring to control my 
own movements, I made my escape, passed the 
mountains in two nights, on horseback, having 
bribed a famous guerilla chief, Colin, who ac- 
c jvnpanied me with five of his desperate associates. 

I carried despatches from to General Scott, 

(then at Pue'.)la,) which 1 delivered at four o'clock 
in the morning, and afterwards continued with the 
noble commander — he availing himself of my mi- 
nute knowleJge of the comtry — until I again 
entered the city with the American army. 1 ar- 
rive:! at Puebia two clays before General Pierce's 
brigade arrived there — and was never prouder of 
my coutUry, an i never so protid of my native 
State, as v/lien that fine command rnirched into 
the city. All balconies were crowded, and such, 
a reinforcement spread general joy through the 
army. The circum^itances of the march, tlie en- 
ergetic, prudent, and skilful manner in which it 
had been performed — the darin;;: courage mani- 
fested by the commmder, partictilarly in cr.;ssinj 
the National Bridge, when his hat was sliot from 
his head — were, of course, the subjects of much 
conversation, and secured for General Pierce high 
almiratiou and entire confi.lence. And these, I 
may safely say, were never abated during the 
, campaign. 

j I do not propose to give you details of that 
1 campaign, but to state some facts withia my own 



kiiowledge in relation to the operations of the 19th 
and 20th of AujEjusr, and the 8th of September. 
On the 19tli August I was at St. Augr.stine, about 
seven miles from Contreras. Pierce's', brigade 
marched out e?>j)y to open the road across the 
mountain for the artillery whfch followed tliat 
afterHoon. I did not see General Picrco agun till 
near noon the next day. 1 had been wich Gen. 
Scour's stair all the morning of the SOih, asid had 
heard of the dangerous injury Gen. Pierce had 
sustained by the fall of his horse on the peJregal 
the afternoon before. The horse was i--uppo.<ed"'io 
have caught his fore-foot in the cleft of a roc'f, 
being at a hard gallop. The preservation of the 
life of the General seems here', as at the Nafioiicil 
Bridge, to have been providential. Altho^^^h iho 
bones of the horse were broken, so that he was 
left upon the spot, the tenacity with which the 
rider held to his command, during thi.t day and 
the next, was the wonder of all. He rode du- 
ring the residue of that evening the horse of the 
gallant Lieutenant Johnson, who had just been 
shot in his sadd'e. 

I met Gm. Fierce on the 20d), near Coyacan. 
Gen. Twiggs's division had advanced on the road 
towards the church at Churubus-.o, and when I 
met Pierce the heavy firing of the bitteries had 
opened. I shall viever forget his appearance as 
he rode at the head of that noble b.igade, des- 
tined to suffer so terribly in the afternoon. He 
■was exceedingly thin — worn down by the fatii^ue 
and pain of the day and night before— and then 
evidently suffering .severely. Still, there was a 
glow in his eye, as ihe cannon boomed, that 
showed within him a spirit ready for the conflict. 

The brigade was soon formed on the west side 
of the plaza of Coyacan, opposite the church. 1 
tvas familiar v/ith all the roads anil paihs in that 
neighborhood, and informed Gen. Scott, who was 
in his saddle, under a tree, near the church from 
which he was issuing orders to different members 
of his staff, that I knew a routs by which the en- 
emy could be attacked in rear. Having decided 
at once to send Pierce's brigade, and to support 
it by other troops that mi^ht be at his command, 
he despatched me to call Gen. Pierce. I did so ; 
and when he rode up, a conversation, in sub- 
stance, and, as near as I can recollect, in the fol- 
lowing words, took place: 

General Scott said, " Pierce, my dear fellov/, 
you are badly injured — you are not fit to be in 
your saddle." '-"Yes, I am," said Pierce, "in a 
case like this." General Scott said—" It is temer- 
ity ; we shall lose you, and cannot spare you. I 
ought to order you back to St. Augustine. You 
cannot touch your foot to the stirrup." " I can, 
one of them," said Pierce, "and thatisenough for 
to-Jay. This will be the last great fight, and I 
must lead my brigade." The order was then 
given, I acting as guide by the direction of General 
Scott; Major Lee, of the engineer corps, accom- 
panying the cimmand. The brigade moved rap- 
idly forward for about a mde, when we came to a 
ditch, as I recollect, ten or twelve feet wide, and 
six or eight derp. Pierce was lifted from his 
saddle, and as if lo tread upon impossibilities, he 
led the brigade, then under fire, in his crippled 
condition, for a considerable distance on foot, 
when he fell from exhaustion and suffering, too 
great even for his energies. He refused to be car- 
ried from the field, and remained till the final route 



of the enemy. More inliexibls determination and 
daring courage I do not believe were ever exhibited 
upon a battle-field. 

On the night before the battle of Molino del 
R^.y, Ganera! Pierce's brigade was at the hacienda 
of San Borjia, about one mile from Tacubaya, 
whftre it had been held from earliest dawn under 
arms. You know how General Wortii's most 
gallant division suffered. The carnage on the 
field v/cis dreadful. General Szoit despatched me 
to ac'ornpany my friend Major Gaines with an 
order for Pierce to advance. They were ready in 
an iuoJtant, and moved rapidly forward. I was 
upon the field, and witnessed Pierce'.s fine move- 
ment upon the King's Mill, to relieve Colonel 
Garland, who had been fighting till that hour. 
Hs advanced with the 9th infantry, (and, as I re- 
collect, 2d artillery, not of his brigade proper.) 
The enemy, v/lnse fire had nearly ceased, upon 
the movement of these new regiments, reopened 
with round shot and she'! from Chepultepec. I 
well reiiemb-ir that the bay horse which the 
General took from the States became, i.-mder fire, 
difficult to manage, and was well nigh plunging 
over a precipice close by the King's Alill at the 
bridge, in consequence of the bursting of a shell 
but a few feet from him. Nothmg could have 
been more cool and admirable than this whole 
movement. 

I made the acquaintance of General Pierce 
thousands of miles from our native land, under 
circumstances that " tried men's souls." I found 
hi'i there what all know him to be here, and I 
cannot withliold this act of justice from one who 
has as brave a heart, and as self-sacrificing a 
spirit, as ever warmed a true man's bosom. I 
kn^'W General Pierce needs no vindication of his 
military conduct. His msrit in this respect is 
proclaimed by the united voice of officers and 
men — those who participated and who know. 
But, at the same time, he maj' not be displeased 
with these hasty reminiscences from me. I have 
been so lon<5 from the country, that I feel but 
little interest in mere party conflicts. 

Your obedient servant, 

NOAH E. SMITH. 

The article from which the follow- 
ing extracts are made is talcea from 
the Louisiana Courier, and was writ- 
ten hj an officer of engineers who 
served with great distinction in the 
Mexican war. It may be added that 
tliis able, truthful, and accomplished 
offi'"-er (not only an honor to Louis- 
iana, but the pride and ornament of 
that glorious French race to which he 
owes his origin) served on the staff of 
General Scott from Vera Cruz to Mex- 
ico, was on duty at Contreras with 
Pierce's brigade, and was the only 
, officer of engineers who, at the cele- 
brated council of Piedad, advised 
(jleneral Scott to make the attack upon 
Chepultepec. 



9 



[From the Louisiana Coarier.] 
GENERAL PIERCE IN MEXICO. 

New Orleans, Jahj 3, 1852. 
Col. J. F. II. Ciaihorne: 

Dear Sir : In the New Orleans Bee of the 9d 
instant, 1 perceive a 4 assertion relative to the 
military services of Geweral Pierce, which is so 
erroneous and unjust to-.vards that gentleman that, 
having had the honor of serving; wi!h him, I can- 
not allow it to pass unrefated ; others, less chari- 
table than the Bee, have even gone so far as to 
accuse him indirectly of cowardice! It was my 
luck during the war with Mexico to see or hear 
of no cowards i;i our small but gallant army — 
especially amona: our general officers, some of 
whom, on the contrary, on too many occasions, 
were but too rash and impetuous. * * » 
The article re.*'erred to says: "He (Gen. P.) 
was present at none of the battles fought by Gen. 
Sc,ot; ;" and farther on, ~" that his only exploits 
durin«: the war with Mexico v/ere limited to a fall 
from his horse and a sprain I" Now. this is a bold 
assertion, which arises, no doubt, from a proper 
want of information on the suHject. * * * In 
the first place, a few days after the arrival of Gen. 
Pierce at Verri Cruz, in the month of July, he had 
organized and equipped nearly 2,509 new levies, 
volunteers and recruits, for the army then at Pue- 
bia, notwithstanding all the difficulties he had to 
encounter. He started from Vera Cruz on the 
19th of Ji-ily, and, after many difficulties encoun- 
tered on the route, and being harassed constantly 
by the guerillas, (Ripley's History of the War 
with Mexico, p. 164, vol. 2d,) under that celebrated 
chief and robber. Padre Jarauta, he arrived in 
safety with his command at Puebia on the 6th of 
August, " having lost but few of his men from 
sickness and the desultory fire of the guerillas." 

At the battle of Contreras I had the opportunity 
to see him under a heavy fire of shells and shot, 
before his horse had fallen upon him, and saw 
nothing in his manner and looks, notwithstanding 
the novelty of the position to him, (for this was 
rather a diffr^rent affair from his guerilla warfare,) 
which could have possibly been interpreted as the 
sentiment of fear or irresolution, let alone that of 
cmoardice. On the contrary, he appeared to me to 
be quite at home for a new hand at the business. 
» * * * * 

To any one who has ever seen the " pedregal," 
which had to be crossed at the battle of Contreras 
to get at the entrenched camp of Valencia, the 
wonder is, not that the General's horse •' should 
have fallen and spramed the General's foot," but 
that he should not have broken his neck ; for 
those who were dismounted had the utmost diffi- 
culty to get across that broken and rugged coun- 
try, and under mv other circumsianc.es than those 
we were placed in, we would have hesitated a 
long time before making the attempt. " Pierce's 
brigade was at once ordered to the front. With 
his two remaining regiments, Pierce pressed rap- 
idly forward." 

* * * * 

Now, the General kept on his horse at the head 
of his column as long as the nature of the ground 
had permitted it ; but when he had got on the field 
near the enemy's line, along the road to the city 
of Mexico tVom the rear of the tele de pont, in ad- 
vance of the bridge of Churubusco, the ground 



became so cut up with wide and deep ditches, 
that, having alighted from his horse to endeavor 
to advance still further, he soon became exhausted 
from the intense p'lin he was suffering, and which 
every new effort of his increased ten-fold. He at 
last found it utterly impossible to go any further; 
and notwithstamling he was e.xposed there, also, 
to a heavy fire of musketry and escopeiies, he re- 
mained there, urging his men forward, until the 
enemy's line was broken anJ di.^persed. 

Any one who has ever been so unfortunate as 
to be afflicted with a sprain, can but admire the 
energy and power of endurance displayed on this 
occasion by General Pierce, atid those w'lo beheld' 
him at the time could but admire his coolness and 
courage. «#**=« 

On the morning of the 11th of September, before 
making our last grand effort to enter the city of 
Mexico, the genera!-in-chief held a meeting of hi3 
general and engineer officers at the village of Pie- 
tiad ; and aft°r having explained his views as to 
the best point for attacking the city, v/hich was 
by Chepultepec and its western gates, he called 
upon those present for their opinion unbiased by 
what he had said upon the subject, that he might 
make up his niind and give the necessary orders 
for the attack before the meeting was broken up. 
They all opined for an attack by the southerrt 
gates, with the exception of Generals-Twiggs and 
Pierce and one engineer officer, who all three sus- 
tained the views of the genera!-in-chief, which 
were finally adopted, and resulted in the brilliant 
and successful achievements of Chepultepec and 
the Garitas of Belen and San Cosme. 

* *: # * 

The officers of his personal s'aff were intimate 
friends of mine, and I never heard them speak of 
him but in terms of friendship and admiration, 
not only for his coolness, courage, and intrepidity 
when imder the fire of the enemy, but also for 
his kind, polite, and unpretendintr manners, hi.^ 
warm, impulsive, and generous nature, which al- 
ways promoted him to ascribe to others the credit 
of things which he might with due propriety have 
attributed to himself. * sr; * # 

1 remain, sir, your obedient servant, 

A LOOKER-ON IN VENICE. 

It may be added to the comments 
of tlie Louisiana Courier upon the 
Bayou- Goula letter, that its writer is 
beUeved to be a distinguished gradu- 
ate of the Mihtary Academy, who, af- 
ter serving about two years in the corps 
of engineers of the United States army, 
resigned his commission, and accepted 
the position of State engineer of Lou- 
isiana. He is well known in that 
State as a successful planter and a 
high-minded citizen. In Mexico he 
served with great distinction in high 
command . 

Bayou Goula, La., Jane 21, 1852. 
Col. .J. F. H. Claiborne: 

M\ Dear Sir: The political history of General 
Franklin Pierce is on record, and open to every- 



10 



body. I wish to speak of him as a gentleman 
aatl soldier, for as such I knew him. 

Ill the latter part of June, 1847, I found mV'^elf 
encamped near Vera Cruz, en routr. to jnin Gen. 
Scott at Pi'.ebla. General Pierce arrived from the 
north with the 9th reo^iment, then commanded by 
the gallant and lamented Col. Ransom, v^ho was 
aftcrwaniji shot dead, through the head, at the 
storming of Chepulrepec. * * * * 

Brigadier General Pierce, for a new hand at the 
business, had a great deal to do. He was found, 
however, equal to the task; prompt, energetic, 
clear-headed, and, unlike some; citizen appoint- 
ments, not afiaid or ashamrd to ask, when in 
doubt, advice from regular and experienced ofS- 
cers of d,e army. Ov.'ing to the exertions of Gen. 
Pierce and Col. Wilson, the brigade was organ- 
ized and equipped much sooner than couid have 
been reasonably expected, and we left for Puebla. 
As was expected, the advancing column was har- 
assed all along the route by the ''guerillas," 
under command of that troublesome and persever- 
ing military padre, Jarauta. Whenever fired 
upon, the General invariably moved to the front, 
exposing him.^elf as a common soldier. At the 
" Paso dc los Ovejos," " National Bridge," " Plan 
del Rio," at all of which places our progress was 
opposed, the General led the column. I speak 
from the book, as I was there and .saw him. At 
the Kalional Bridge he got through his fdl bat an 
escopelte ball, which, had it ranged an inch lower, 
would have saved him the trouble of running far 
the presidency. The march to Puebla was rapid— 
the brigade arriving in good order, and rsady to 
go into action. Tne ne'xt day the first division 
left for Mexico under Gen. Twiggs. 

Gen. Pierce was in all the battles of the valley, 
and everywhere did his duty faiih^ully and gal- 
lantly, as the reports of the commander-in-chief. 
Gen. Scott himself, will show. To theaa I refer 
the skeptical on this point. i the evening of the 
19th of August, during the first attack on Contre- 
ras, Gan. Pierce was severely ir.jured by his horso 
falling upon him. By the way, it is a matter of 
wonder that we did not all break our necks in that 
infernal pedregal. It was enoujjh to put every 
■one "/lors (ie coinia.',-" but with indomitable cour- 
age and fortitude, under excrutiating pain, he v/as 
•assisted on his horse next day, and led his com- 
mand in both the battles of Contreras and Chu- 
rubusco. 



Extracts of a letter fmtn Gerteral Shldtls to a com- 
miltee oj ciiizt'ns nf Illinois. 

[From the Washington Union.] 

Washington,. 'ii/gus! 5, 1352. 

Gentlemen: * * * * General Pierce landed 
■with his brigade at Vera Cruz in June, 1847; 
marched from there to Puebla, where he joined 
the headquarfers of the army on the 6th of August. 
On this march, which was very severe on fresh 
levies, his brigade was constantly harassed and 
attacked by lar^e parties of guerillas. It was the 
universal opinion amongst military men in Puebla 
at that time that General Pierce conducted the 
march with uncommon ability, and cxiiibi'.ed re- 
markable skill and courage in his conflicts with 
the enemy. 

Soon after his arrival he entered the valley of 



I Mexico. The battle of Contreras opened the 
I campaign in that valley on th« !9th of August. 
i Pierce's brigade took a very active part in that 
i engagement. Fie himself commanded in person 
i on that occasion, and Ijehaved wiih acknowledged 
! ^atlantry ; and though very severely injured by a 
I f-ili from his horse — or rather by the fall of his 
! horse — lie continued in command in the midst of 
the fire until late in the night, when tha; action 
I terminated. 

I The baa'e of Churnbusco, one of the bloodiest 
I battles of the war, was foiv^-ht the next day. On 
; this occasion [ v/as ordered by General Scott to 
; take command of Pierce's brigBide and the moun- 
; tain howitzer battery, in addition to mv own two 
regiments, and with this force to fail on the 
enemy's rear and cut off his retreat. Pierce and 
myself, with our united commands, proceeded as 
rapidly as the nature of the ground would permit 
to carry this order into faithful execution. Pierce 
was sufiering dr^adfu-ly at this time from the in- 
jurjr of the preceding day, and, as General Scott 
himself says in las report, was only "just able to 
keep the saJdle." As we approached the enemy's 
position, directly under his fire, we encountered a 
deep ditch, or rather a deep, narrow, slimy canal, 
which had been previously used for the purpose 
of irrigation, it wa? no time to hesitate; so we 
both piunged in. The horse 1 happened to ride 
that day was a light, active Mexican horse. This 
circumstance operated in my favor, and enabled 
me to extricate myself and horse after considerable 
difficulty. Pierce, on the contrary, was mounted 
on a large, heavy American horse, and man and 
horse both sank down and rolled ovar in the ditch. 
There I was corapelied to leave him; for, being 
in charge of the whole command, I had not a 
single moment to spare, and the 'manner in which 
a fa'^v moments are employed on such an occasion 
may determine tlie fortune of a field and the fate 
of an army. Alter struggling there I cannot say 
how long, .he extricated himself from his horse, 
and hurried on foot to join his command, then 
closely eniraged in a desperate contest with the 
enemy; and there he remained till, overcome by 
sutTering and exhaustion, he sank on the ground, 
and was carried all but lifeless from the field. 

This is 3 true statement of facts in relation to 
General Pierce atChurubusco; and this statement 
I would have maiJe at San Augustin, f jur days 
after the battle, when I made my official report, 
but the brigade having rejoined its division im- 
mediately after the action, the officers, instead of 
reporting to me, who commanded them in bat'lc, 
made their report to their division commander ; 
and, as his report of an action which he had no 
opportunity to witness cannot be very circum- 
stantiidl, I think it due to military justice to make 
this statement at this time, when my silence might 
be liable to misconstruction. Whoever takes the 
trouble to read my report of this engagement, 
dated at San Ausu^iin, Mexico, August 24, 1847, 
will find the following paragraph : 

'•■ Pisree's hriiade, under my coinmaml in £lii> action, 
lost a considerablr n'/niber in killed and wounded ; 
an*on»^t the latter \vas Eiio gallant Colonel \lorg:iu of the 
lolh. This command; havina rejoin<!il its divis-ioii. I have 
yet niceived no officia! report of its l0;^s." 

As I never received this report, of course I 
could make no official statement on die subject. 
As my only object in introducing tliis matter is 



11 



to place the military conduct oi General Pierce, 
while under my command, in its true liijht before 
the public, I do not deem it necessary to follow 
him through the rest of the campaign, where tluu 
conduct has ne^er been the subject of injurious 
criticism. Permit me to say, in conclusion, that 
in refarence to General Pierce's courage and con- 
duct in Mexico, I only do for him v/hat I would 
be ready to do for any othor gallant officer witli 
whom I had the honor to serve — that i^, dec'are 
the truth in vindication of his military reputation. 
I regret the unexpected length of this letter, but 
the importance of the subject must constitute my 
apology. 

I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your obedi- 
ent servant, 

J AS. SHIELDS. 
To Me?srs. H. B. McGinnis, Matthew Plumstead, 
John J. Crawford, and others, Galena, Illinois. 

The following extracts of letters 
from Brevet Major Winship, Gen. Pil- 
low, and Col. Wynkoop, need no elu- 
cidation. The manl\'', modest, and 
touching tribute of the gallant and 
high-toned Winship to the services of 
Pierce, must satisfy all minds and 
win all hearts : 

[From the Albany Ar^u*.] 
GEN. PIERCE AND HIS ASSAILANTS. 

.i noble vindication by a brother officer. 

Troy, N. Y., July 13, lS5-.>. 

Dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge 
the receipt of your communication of yesterday, re- 
questing me to state, for publication in tlie Argus, 
the result of my observation in respect to tho con- 
duct and bearing of General Pierce, as an ofncer, 
in the late Mexican war. 

In view of the intiinite official and social rela- 
tions which for several months su'j^isted between 
the G3n8ral and myself, and which gave me am- 
ple opportunities for observing his conduct, both 
as an officer and a man, I feel that, in jusiice to 
him, I cannot do less th^.n comply with your re- 
quest — particularly, as my silence would seem to 
imply that I acknowledged the justice of the fero- 
cious attacks which have been m:iie upon him, of 
late, Ijy a. reckless and unscrupulous partisan press. 

To those who have been associated in arms 
"Vith General Pierce, a formal defence of his char- 
acter as a capable and patriotic ofncer, a gallant 
soldier, and an accomplished and high-toned gen- 
tleman, would seem wholly uncalled for, if not 
absolutely absurd and ridiculous. No one who 
knows him well h-js ever, to my knowledge, 
questioned his capacity, his courage, or his patri- 
otism, until he reluctantly allowed himself to be 
iriade the standard-bearer of a great national po- 
litical party for the coming presidential campaign. 
This, indeed, is the head and front of his odend- 
jng, and is the cause, no doubt, of those astound- 
ing discoveries, so much to his prejulice, whii-h 
have been made by his politicil enemies, in regard 
to his militt'.ry career. * ■* * Of one thing I 
am ceitair ; ?md that is, if the united testimony of 



the whole body of officers of the " Old Army " is 
to be regarded as of any value in establishing the 
reputation of Genertil Pierce, as an officer an.d a 
gentleman, he has but 'ittle to apprehend as to the 
verdict which will eventually be rendered him in 
these respects; for I hazard nothing in saying that 
the General left the .service in higher favor with 
the " Old Guard," than did any other man of the 
new levies. This partiality for him, on the part 
of the officers of the regular army, was all the 
more remarkable, as he was supposed, at first, to 
be inimical to the service, and especially to the 
Military Academy. It i.s but just, however, to 
state that both paitie-s, upon a thorough .'xcquaint- 
ance with each other, found it necessary to change 
their previous opinions and to give up thsir former 
prejudices regarding each othjr. * * * 

My ac']Uiintanc3 wirh Genera! Pierce dates 
from the period at which the American army be- 
came concentrated in the "B.-in of Mexico." I 
was orderpd to report to him forduty,as the chief 
of the stall' of his brigade, but the day before the 
army commenced its inoveinent around the south 
side of Lake Chalco, on to the city of Mexico. 
* * * I was most agreeably surprised and de- 
lighted with the manner and bearing of rny new 
commander, whom I now saw for tlie first time, 
and who received me with an open, manly, and 
soldier-like frankness and cordiality which com- 
pletely charmed me, and made me forget that we 
had not been comrades of a dozen campaigns. 
After an interval of general conversation, the all- 
abs:orbing topic of tiie army, relative to the war in 
which we were engaged, naturally came in review. 
The motives he assigned for talking a part in the 
wnr were peculiarly characteristic, and w?re so 
difierent from any of those which were generally 
supposed to have actu:Ued the mass of our citizens, 
who rushed by thousands ani! tens of thousands 
to the theatre of action, that I could not but be 
struck with them. ' 

He said, in substatice, as nearly as I can now 
recollect, that in hi? section of the Union the war 
was very unpopular ; that he, nevertheless, wtis 
among those who believed it to be a just one, and 
that, whether just or not, now that it had com- 
menced, it ought to be prosecuted with vigor to a 
favorable termination. After so decided a stand 
as he had taken in belia^f of the policy of the gov- 
ernment, and on the subject of the jus'ice, the ex- 
pediency, and the necessity even of the war, he 
knev^, he said, that it wou'ii never do for him to 
shrink from any of the legitimate consequences 
of the viewj! he had urged upon his fellow- coun- 
trymen — adding, what I then readily believed, 
and of whicii I am now more than ever convinced, 
that lie had not the least di.sposiiion to avoid those 
consequences, although he had nothing to play for 
in the great gima of war which was then going 
on — having already declined higher htnors than 
it were possible for him, at his lime of life, to win 
in anotn-jr and an untried career. When, there- 
fore, New England M'as called upon to furnish her 
quota of men for the war, he felt bound, in consis- 
ten-ij, not only to olFer his own services, but to 
exert his in.laence in obtaining those of his fellow- 
citizena. 

From this conversation, T at once became sa'in- 
fied that the leading motive of General Pierce in 
coming to Mexico was patriotism, pure and unde- 
filed by any one aelfish or sordid motive ; and be- 



lb 



lieving this, I should have respected him, even 

though his military career had been a total failure. 
Bui his military carc"r was no* a failure, ns tbeie 
is an nbunda!if,o of evidence to prove. His march 
from VeraCru/: to £\!t'b!a is conceded on all hands 
to have been of the .mst brilliant and succe^sfa! 
of the \v.'.r, and drew from ihe v/hole army, from 
the genera! -in-chief to the lowest subaltern, a gen- 
erous and unqiia'illed commendation. This march 
•was performed in midsummer, undir a burning 
tropical sun, and throu2:h a country infested with 
innumerable baiids of "gueri!!eros," and singu- 
larly favorable for thtir operations. With these 
active and ferocious banditti the General had seve- 
ral skirmislies, in one of which, in p.^a-ticular, he 
displayed no less courage and gallantry as a sol- 
dier, than capocitv and conduct as a commander. 
At the '■ Puente Nacional," in leading on a party 
of his men against a barricale on the bridge, he 
received a bullet through his hat, whilst another 
grazed his cheek, producing no materid damsge, 
fortunately, in either case, but proving, at the 
same time, that he was not more backward in 
making himself acquainted with the arguments of 
war than with those of the hw. 

The .^ame gallant and eoldier-like bearing marked 
the conduct of the General on an occasion which 
came under my own observation. It was during 
the evening attack upon tlie enemv''3 eritrenched 
camp at Contreras that Pierce's brigade was or- 
dered to the support of Smith'.s, in an attempt upon 
the front of the Mexican position. The route 
■which these troops were obliged to pursue, for 
some three-quar'ers of a mile, lay along a rough 
and narrow road through the ptdregd, and under 
a heavy fire from the JNIexican batteries. It is well 
known to military men that, of all the terrors of 
battle, there are none more dreaded by raw re- 
cruits than a storm of heavy shot and shells. In 
this species of v,-arfare, (a favorite one, by the 
way, with the Mexicans,) General Pierce was as 
inexperienced as the new levies he commanded ; 
but he weathered the iron tempest like an old 
■veteran, and well knowing the efi'ect of a word 
fitly spoken, in a crisis like this, he posted him- 
self conspicuously in the line of the enemy's heav- 
iest fire, which was then concentrated upon Ma- 
gruder's battery, and addressed his men, as they 
defiled past him, in language so appropriate and 
spirit-stirring, that rone but the veriest coward 
and poltroon that ever skulked i'com danger could 
have resisted the eloquent appeal he made to the 
pride and patriotism of those whom he was wont 
to call his " brave New England boys," The 
effect of his words was magical, especially upon 
the New Englanders, nearly all of whom were 
personally known to him, and almost worshipped 
him. It was here that the General, in attempting 
to cross the pedregal, (an enormous bed of vol- 
canic rocks,) on horseback, was violently thrown 
to the g'.eund, in consequence of his horse step- 
ping into a concealed fissure of ihe rocks, and 
falling with, and partly on his master. The effect 
of the shock was such as, for a time, to render the 
General almost insensible, and his injuries were so 
serious that it v.-as with great difficulty he could 
be lifted into his saddle, and kept there while the 
troops were retiring to their bivouac for the night. 

The night of the 19th of August, 1847, will ever 
be remembered by the Americans who were then 
iu the valley of Mexico, and especially by thoee 



who passed it on the field of Contreras. It waa 
as dark as erebus, and a cold drenching rain came 
on v/hich soaked us to, and even through the skin. 
The only thing in tlie shape of a shelter from the 
deluice which was pouring down upon us con- 
sis'.ed of the wagons of the engineer company and 
of the light batteries which chanced to be on the 
field, and these were filled with the wounded. 
The General managed, hov/ever, to find a f)ariial 
cover in or under one of these wagons for the 
niaht; but v/hen morning came, it found him bo 
stiffened from the effects of his bruises and the 
cold wet air that he could scarcely move He 
nevertheless persisted in tnking the .saddle, al- 
though he was utterly incapable of getting into it 
without assistance. In the mean time General 
Persifor F. Smith, the hero of this field, who had 
been actively and indefatigably engaged all night 
long in gaining the rear of the enemy's entrenched 
camp, came thundering down upon the astonished 
Mexicans, a little at'ter sunrise, like an alpine ava- 
lanche. The scene v/as too exciting fir so r^rdent 
ai>d enthusiastic a temperanaent as that of General 
Pierce, and forgetting his physical pains in the 
exultation of his spirits, he hurried to join in the 
pursuit of the already flying foe. Arrived at the 
town of San Ani;el, some six miles from the field 
of Contrera.'^, a halt was directed in order to re- 
fresh the troops and prepare them for the great 
struggle of the day, yet to come, in which hun- 
dreds of gallant fellows, now Hushed v;ith the 
morning's victory, were destined to find thiir next 
repose in the s'eep of death. The General was, 
even now, paying the penalty of his over-exertion 
and excitement in the pursuit; and his aid-de- 
camp, Lieutenant (now Brevet Major) Fitzgerald, 
and myself, both urged him to go no farther, as 
he woulJ, sooner or later, be forced to yield to 
physical weakness and pain. A little further on, 
and at the church of Coyacan, where the com- 
mander-in-chief habitually held himself during the 
battle of Churubusco, we casually encountered 
that officer, who, having been informed of General 
Pierce's mishap of the evening before, and seeing 
the difficulty with which he kept the field, kindly 
added the weight of hi.=' influence and authority to 
the importunities of Lieutenant Fitzgerald and 
myself, in order to dissu.ade General Pierce from 
going into the action, now already commenced. 
The General, however, was immovable in his 
determination to lead his brigade into the engage- 
ment, and the reasons he offered for so doing 
were too forcible and too consonant with the sol- 
dierly feelings of those who surrounded him, to 
admit of any farther remonstrance or expostula- 
tion. From this time I was separated from him 
until the battle was over, and cannot, therefore, 
speak of ray own personal knowledge of what 
befel him or how lie deported himself in the ever- 
memorable conflict of that day. He accompa- 
nied the two regiments of his brigade then at 
hand (the 12th and loth) in an operation which 
had for its object the turning of the enemy's posi- 
tion and the intercepting of his retreat towards 
the capital, whilst I was sent for the 9th or New 
England regiment, which, together with a section 
of the Mountain Howitzer Battery, had been pre- 
viously posted on one of the roads leading from. 
San Angel to the city, but was now ordered to 
join the brigade. Agreeably to my instructions 
I hurried in this detachment, and arrived at the^ 



1^ 



position occupieil by Sliields'.s ; nd Pierce's troops, 
at a moment when no little confu.sion prevailed in 
their ranks, owing to a galling flank and reverse 
fire which they were then receiving from the 
enerny. Seeing no one on ihe ground at the mo- 
ment, authorized to give instructions relative to 
the troops 1 had brought, I took the responsibility 
of posting them, in the Gencrars name, perpendi- 
cular 10 the left of General Shields's line, in order 
to show front to the enemy hovering on our left 
flank. Having made this disposition of the New 
England regiment, 1 remained with it until the 
close of tlie battle. 1 am thus minute in these 
particulars, in order to show how 1 came to be 
separated from General Pierce during the entire 
engagement, os well as to explain certain passages 
of liis official report, whicJi might otherwise appear 
unsatisfactory, in the meantime, I have it from 
several reliable sources that General Pierce was 
on the field, and was as much expos'^d as any 
other man in it, though, unfortunately for him and 
for his com.mand, he was unable to participate ac- 
tively in the struggle. Lieutenant Fitzgerald, than 
•whom a more gallant soldier and chivalric genile- 
man does not exist, inlormed me, immediately 
after the battle, that he was continually by the 
side of the General, excr pt when carrying his or- 
ders to the troops, and that, owing to the difficul- 
ties of the ground over which lie had to struggle, 
(it being sort and yieldii g, and cut up by many 
broad and deep ditches,) in his then weak and 
bruised condition, he finally fell, faint and com- 
pletely exhausted, within the range of the enemy's 
musketry on the one side and his cavalry escope- 
tas on the other ; thus showing that, if he had in- 
tended to avoid the dangers ot the field, he made 
a most unfortunate selection of a hiding place ; for 
the ground on which he is said to have fallen is a 
dead level, and was incapable of affording the least 
shelter from the cross-fire which raked nearly 
every foot of its surface. * * * 

General Pierce, as is well known, was selected 
by the General-in-Chief one of the commissioners 
to settle the terms of the armistice which was pro- 
posed immediately af.er the battle of Chuiubusco 
— an evidence of the confidence whicli General 
Scott had m his abilities, diplomatic as well as 
military. * * * 

At iivlolino del Rey General Pierce rendered 
good service in relieving Worth's division, after 
the long and sanguinary conflict maintained by 
that gallant coips. His brigade was posted some 
miles ofFwhfii the action begun, but arrived in 
time to take the place of Worth's troops and bring 

off ihcir kjlletl and wounded from under the guns 

of Chepultepec and the fire of the enemy's mus- 
ketry posted in tlie wood behind the mills. — His 
gallant bearing on this occasion attracted particular 
attention. * * * 

To claim for General Pierce the title of a great 
military chieftain would be to ask more for him 
than It wcie possible ihat a man, wiili the military 
capacity oi a Napoleon, even, could earn in so 
short a military career, and much more than he 
ever dreamed of cit.iming for himself. There is 
no man more sensible than himself of a truth 
■which is but too little appreci.=ited in this country, 
namely : that war is a science, vwhich, considered 
in all Us various and complex details and combi- 
nations, is thoroughly understood but by a very 
jsnriall portion even of those who ■ha.ve ^ade it 



their profession, and have passed the best part of 
their hves in the camp. General Pierce never, for 
a moment, flattered himself that miliiary rank, of 
necessity, confers correspondii.g military qualifi- 
cations — an illusion but too cotnmon among those 
who have been newly invested with it. He 
fiasikly and honestly acknowledged his compara- 
j live ignorance and inexperience in military mat- 
tprs, and, like the gallant and lamented G:ncral 
j Hanier, was ever ready to listen to the suggestions 
; of experience, come from whence they might. * * 
i But the chief merit of General Pierce's military 
! career consists in his having left the peaceful oc- 
I cupations of his previous life, giving up a lucra- 
j tive practice, upon which he and his family were 
I dependent for ruppoi;L and hurrying to the tented 
'< field without the hope, expectation or wish, even, 
' of additional honors or emolwments, present or 
I f)rospective, but simply in obedience to his coun- 
try's call, and with ihe view, a. one, to vindicate 
her integrity and promote her interests. He who 
I takes up his country's cause merely for the ad- 
1 vantages which will accrue to himself by so doing, 
[ is deserving of no more credit than attaches Id any 
j other commendable act suggested by inieresteU 
: motives; but he vvho, on the contrary, sacrifices 
private interests for the public, good, is entitled to 
j consideration, not only for the benefits he confers, 
but fur the motives which prompted them. Such 
a man, if there ever was one, i veriiy believe to 
j be General Frank. Pierce — the most sincere and 
j ardent patriot, I have no hesitation in sayjng, that 
j I ever knew. I do not make this asaeriion in a 
mere strain of exaggerated eulogy, as any one can 
bear me witness v.ho has had half an hour's con- 
versation with the General upon those incidents 
in our country's history of which every true 
American i.s proud. * * * 
j In conclusion, my dear sir, I wish it distinctly 
understood that the foregoing statement of facts 
; and impressions, relative to General Pierce, are 
; intended merely as a refutation of some of the 
[ base slanders which have been uttered concerning 
' his character and cfrMhict a.s an officer in the late 
war with Mexico. They are not designed to have 
I the least bearing upon the issue uf the great po- 
j litical contest which is now near at hand, and in 
I which General Pierce is arrayed in antagonism 'o 
' the illustriou.s chief of the military body to which 
' I have the hdiior, as an humble and insignificant 
! member, to belong. I have said here no more for 
! the one than T have frequently urged for the other, 
i under similar circumstances, nor no more than I 
' would feel it an imperative duty to say for any 
I brother officer whom I believed to be grossly cal- 
! umniated. 

Willi great respect, 1 liave the honor to be, sir,. 
j your obedient servant, 
! 0. F. WINSHIP, 

{ Major U. iS. ^?!»ijy. 

I To SnEnMAK CR0bWKLi.,Esq., »5.'iir.n(,', i/V. Y. 



Lelttr from (Jcixfral Pilhw. 

Coi.vMBiA, Tenn., 7u/i/ 8, 1852. 
To the Editor .->/ the J'-fcskvUle Tmion: A.s every- 
tiiing touching the character of Genera! Pierre, as 
well as the opinion of oar public men, now incer- 
tsts the public, 1 have thought it not improper to 
give you for publicaiioQ an extract of a private 



14 



letter of the late ex- President Polk, written to i 

myself on the 18th day cf May, 1847, and deliv- j 
ered to me in ihc city of Puebla, Mexico. The j 
extract is as follows, viz : I 

" Your two brigadier-generals, Pierce ard Cad- ' 
walader, who v/iil be under your imrricdiate com- ' 
rnaad, are noble men. General Pierce is iimv iht 
first ma-a in .Veio England. He i? a man of fine 
taleiiis. He is my personal friend, and you may 
fully confide in him. He v.os with me in the 
House of Representatives for several years, and 
was afterwards in the Senate. Gen. Cadwalader 
is a gentleman of high character and of decided 
military reputation. You may well be proud of 
two such officeis under y(Air eomn:and." 

* *. * * * * 

In the operations of the aimy in the valley of 
Mexico, tisat General Pierce fully sustained the 
exalted opinion of ex- President Polk will be seen 
by reference to the leports of jVlajor-Generals 
Scott and Worth and those of my ov/n. These 
despatches v.fere all prepared with a personal 
knowled?,c of the gallant bearing of Gen. Pierce, 
and at a time and under circumstances exeniptirg 
those officers from any possible motive to over- 
estimate the importance of his services or the 
character of his conduct. The reports of the 
first and last of these officers agree in the state- 
ment of fact, that General Pierce was severely in- 
jured by the fall of his hoise on the rocks of the 
pedregal while f;allantly leading his brigade in the 
iaattie of Coiureras. I'hey also bear full testimo- 
ny to ihe fact, that though so badly injured, he 
might have retired to the hospital as disabled for 
duly, and "though barely able to keep his sad- 
dle," yet he remamed upon duty, and led his gal- 
lant biieade into the bloody battle of Churubus- 
co. " * * * * * 



Lcilc-rfrcm Colonel IVynkoop. \ 

Washington, D. C, July 3, 1852. ! 

Gentlemen: I am obliged to you for your let- 
ter ot the Gth July, and take great pleasure in { 
promptly replying to it. During- the last war 
■with Altxico I knew General Franklin Pierce per- 
sonally and well ; but it is proper to say that it 
Avas not my good fortune to participate with him 
in tho.~.; several battles wherein he earned for 
himself so justly the high reputation of a gallant 
soldier and a good general. 

My knowledge of General Pierce was,, how- 
ever, the reflected opinion of the whole army. 
From the rank and file upward he was uniyer- 
eally regarded as a dit:criminating, self-sacrificing, 
and devoted officer. The men esteemed it a favor 
to serve with him, and officers deemed themselves 
unusually fortunate to be brigaded under his com- 
naand. 

General Pierce was afterwards offered the ap- 
pointment of brigadier-general, v/hich he accepted, 
and immediately entered upon the duties of his 
new position v/ith alacrity and decis'on. He ar- 
rived at Vera Cruz during the most pestilential 
season of the whole year, (June 28, 1847,) and 
found there a camp filled with disease and death. 
Lpaving that point in the middle of July waih the 
9th, I2th, and 15ih infantry, (in all about 2,500 
nien,) he made one of l!ie mcut rapid and suc- 



cessful marches recorded during the whole war. 

His troops weie new, and to u great extent un- 
disciplined : 'lie read was beset v.ith guerillas 
along the whole line, and the heat was intensely 
oppressive; yet steadily, firmly, and bravely he 
encountered these difficulties — always leading, al- 
ways encourfging — until he reported to Scott at 
1 Puebia, with slighter loss, in proportion to the 
I size of his command, than that sustained by any 
1 other commander under like circumstances. At 
j the National Bridge, when attacked by guerillas, 
; he led his command against the barricades, and 
i in the clfarge received a ball through his bat. 
I The new s of his successful progress had preceded 
j him to Perote, and upon his arrival there I found 
j in him ail that could attach the respect and admi- 
j ration of a sold.er. 

I General Pierce saw his first general battle at 
! Contreras, August 19, 1847. # * * * 
j General Pierce was ordered forward wilh the 
i Sih and 13th regiments at about 2 o'clock, and it 
I was late in the evening of the same day, after 
{ having been exposed to a murderous fire of more 
i than three hours, that his horse fell and injured 
I him. An old friend of mine, snd an oflicer of 
I distinction, lelis me that at the time of Pierce'.3 
j advance upon Valencia's camp at Contreras he was 
j standing beside Major General Twiggs, watching 
I their ap.proach, and as they came up under that 
I withering fire, led by an officer on a black horse, 
! Twiggs exclaimed, '-By heavens! it is the gal- 
j lantoTd 3d ; see how steadily they move up." It 
I was the 9ih infantry, and Pierce leading ! 
I A.!thoii£h severely hurt, and sufficiently to have 
j justified his retiring under surgical treatment, we 
. find him again in the field on the next day ; and 
I here 1 propose to give General Scott's own lesti- 
i mony 10 his conduct. In his report of August 
i 28th, when speaking of the occurrences on the 
i 20ih, he says: "Accordingly, the two advanced 
I divisions and Shields's brigade marched from Con- 
] treras, under the immediate orders of General Pil- 
low, who was now joined by the gallant Brigadier 
General Pierce of his division, personally throv/n 
I out of activity late the evening before by a severe 
j hurt, received from the fall of his horse." * * * 
] General Pierce's service^:, however, did not end 
j here ; for on the 8ih of September we find him 
I with the 9ih and 2d regiments of infantry, under 
{a heavy fire from the" batteries at Chepultepec, 
I covering successfully the retreat of Cadwalader 
! and Garland's brigades from the field at Molino- 
I del Rey. * * * 

Very reepeclfullv, your friend and fellow- oitixpn, 

FRANCIS M. WYNKOOP. 
To Messrs. Strange N. Palmer, Joseph Wea- 
ver, Henry Geis, Isaac M. Cake, R. M. Palmer,, 
and Edward Kerns. 

Exlracts of a Idler from Lieutenant Drum, U. S^ 

^irmy 

Fort Brady, Saut St. Marie, (Mich.,) 

Jnl3 20, 1852. 

Dear Sir : In reply to your interrogatory re- 
specting the absurd allegation that " Generah 
Pierce managed to faint at the commencement of 
every battle" during the campaign in the valley 
of Mexico, I will give you the following detailed 
statement, as an oje-ioilness cfmosl, if not all, Gen- 
eral Pierce's movements dxi,rins tkose engagements. , 



u 



On the 18lh of August, 1B47, General Pierce 
wss t'.irected to act witii bis brigade as a suppcrt- 
,ing force to that portion of Gen. Twiggs's division 
order-ed to attack in front the enemy's position at 
Contreras. 

In. complying with these instructions, he was 
• exposed to a continued discharge of round shot 
and shells. The General was at this time mounted 
and riding along a ledge of pcdiegal, (volcanic 
rock.) Afier liaving advanced with his force 
about half a mile, directly towards the enemy's 
work, the fire frora their battery became very se- 
vere; (ho air bring filled with mi;;siles, his horse 
look flight and fell with him on the ledge, throw- 
ing the Geneial some distance and injuring him 
very sevsrely. The general impresbion at the 
time with those who wiinesf^ed the accident was, 
ihat he .was either killed or severely v/ounded. 

Ke wac, ] think, when this accioetit happened, 
in advance of his brigade, and certainly displayed 
during that engagement as much gallantry as any 
one whose actions came under my observalipn. 

Though seriously disabled, as was indeed evi- 
(dent from his physical appearance, he remained 
in the field tiiat night, and insisted upon joining 
in the contest on the mo-rnmg of tite 2()th ; and 
.although it was with difiiculty he could retain his 
seat on horseback, yet he led hi^^ command into 
the engagement of Churubusco. # ^ * 

Gen. Pierce's .conduct during his march from 
Vera Cruz to Puebla was cerfainly sufficKrni to 
shield him from so foul an accusation as the one 
abov,e.r;noted. 

Witiiin my own knowledge he was frequently 
exposed to the enemy's fire, and upon every oc- 
casion conducted hini-self with that propriety that 
should characterize the conduct- of every brave 
and true soldier. * *' * 

There was, however, one great military virtue 
diat Uen. Pierce never failed to exercise. I al- 
lude, sir, to his unceasing efi'orts to alleviate the 
sufteriugs and necirbsary privations of the men 
under his commard. li was with him a duty to 
contiibute with kind words and atientions to the 
comfort of the sick and wounded soldiers, and 
from his personal means secured them many 
necessaries of which iliey were destitute. * * 
1 am, sir, re.'^pfctfully, youis, 

RICHARD C. DRUiVr, 
Lievtenanl 4i/( .irtitlny, U- S. .1. 

Hon. ClIAP.LES SllALER. 

Extracts of a letter from Capt. George Boicers, an j 

Jo S. JL Hnmmelt, Esq. | 

Nashua, July 8, J852. 

Dear Sir : Enj(3gements that could not well be | 
deferred have prevented me from giving an earlier } 
answer to your letter of the 23d ult. * * 

T have been well acquainted with Gen. Pierce 
for at least fifteen years. * * * His great em- 
inence as a Iciwyc", and signal success and ability 
as an fjdvocats, you doubtless know. * * * 
But I desire to ,~ay that I have never known a 
rtiixr, with a kinder heart, one who performed more 
honoj-ably or moro readily all the duties devolving 
upon the privjve citiizen, or who exhiliited a daily 
'ile more wor!l>y ■ f universal commendation, than 
General Pimcu. The infamous falsehoods which 
unscrupuli.ua partisans have circulated, with re i 



gard to the public and private character of Gen. 
Pierce, since his nomination for the presidency, 
need no refutation where he is personally known. 
They can do no injury anywhere where a desire 
for truth shall be sufficient to prompt an investi- 
gation of their falsity. 

A v/ord as to his biief but brilliant military ca- 
reer. I belonged to the 9th infantry, of which 
he was originally colonel, and served in his 
brigade through the campaign from first to last. 
When the 9ih infantry arrived at Vera Cruz, 
June 28, 1847, troops from dilferent sections of 
the country, ihe Sth and I2'h infantry, tv.o com- 
panies of cavalry, a corps of marines, and detach- 
ments, numberiRg, of all arms, about tv/enty-five 
hundred men, were assembled there, or, rather,, 
at Camp Vergara, below the city. It was in the 
midst of the vomito season, and the General, with- 
out a day's delay, devoted himself to a thorough 
organization of the mixed elements of his com- 
mand, and a prepr.raiion for the march to join 
Gen. Scott at Puebla. Gen. Pierce's eye waa 
everywhere, and his labor and exposi^re in the 
work of preparation were oir.azing. He msiin- 
tained rigid discipline, which was indispensable ^ 
but, at the same time, by his admirable jadgment 
and redl kindness, and unremitting attentions to 
the wants of all, lie secured not only the respect, 
j but the affection of all— a respect and aflection 
I which were maintained under all the privations 
i and hards-hips of the march and the severe service 
inthevalhy. We all regarded him not only as 
our safe and ever gallant commander, but, as it 
were, our father. No real grievance o''officer or sol- 
dier was ever brought to his notice without redress. 
I have seen him under fire many times, and his 
bearing was always marked by an intrej.idity and 
coolness iliat commanded perfect confidence, and 
his entire disregard of personal danger excited on 
the part of his command the highest enthusiasm. 
This was eminently the cpse'at the National 
Bridge, where the variation of the eighth of an 
inch in the range of the ball that struck his hat 
from his head would have cost him his life, and 
also at Contreras and Churubusco. His endu- 
rance, fortitude, and vigilance, under ail circum- 
stance^^, could not be surpassed. His judgment 
was quick, and when once formed, execution fol- 
lowed with the rapidity of light. His daring in- 
tiepidity, known to all who participated v.ith him 
in danger, and who were inspired by his example, 
no one but un infamous blackguard and coward 
would deny. This will be affirmed by all good 
officers and men — whether of the old' army or 
new levies — who served wiih General Fierce. 
His assiduous attentions to the wants and com-- 
forts of the feeble, the sick, and the wounded, 
have borne to him the blest^ings of many who are 
now dead, and will continue to bear to him the 
grateful blessings of many who survived. * * * 

You have perfect liberty to make eucli use of 
this letter as you may deem proper. 

Very respectfully, your obedient f^i -. 

GEORGK E ■ .-' 

S. A. Hammett, Esq., Alio Ycrk ( 

Exlrac's from a private letter of Brer : lAeui. <JoL 
B. S. Roberts, rf^iiment of mounted i['!i:itn, to his 
father, first published in the Vermoni (.'•.'.',•. 

Washington, D. C.,Angw! ., !.;,;{•. 
Mt Dear Father: In answer to ycurinjuincs 



16 

of my personal knowledge of General Pierce's j lant Ransom of our State, nDiRtf.ken by Twigras for 
iTiilitary services in Mexico, I feel some distrust, the veteran 3d infantry. 77it.5 1 saic and heard. It 
as an ofticer of the o!d line, that a natural Ijias | was under Ihts fire that his horse became uiiman- 
against citizen generals may operate to prevent a i asieable; and falling among the lava rocks, General 
candid avowal of ti"eir value. Nevertheless, 1 ■ Pierce vias disabled. 

will stale the facts of my own knowledge, and I ! I saw nothing more of General Pierce until the 
doubt not you will see that I am just to your j nest day, at the halt of the army at Coyacan, a 
*' model salesman and general.''^ few minutes before the commeni'eme.ot of the ter- 

I v/as in Paebla vhen it was first generally rible battle of Churubusco. He was then suffer- 



kncwn that General Pierce was on his march from 
Vera Cruz to that place in commajid of several new 
regiments and recruits for the old army. 



ing from the irjury received by the fall of hia 
horse in the pedregal, but resolved upon remain- 
ing with his brigade. I have conversed with 



Such reliable information had reached General 1 many oflicers who saw him under the wasting fire 
Scott, about the 25ih July, that thfi guerillas were j of muskrtry that thinned with its destruction ibe 
in great numbers strongly entrenched in the passes j ranks of his and Shields's brigades. In their 
of the La Hoya, that he detached Smith''s brigade, I opinions 1 have undoubting reliance, and their 
with reinf<ircements of dragoons and Domingoe's J universal sentiment has been, that officers and 
spies, to go to Pierce's relief. This conrHnand j men alike in these brigades bore with) unyielding 
rapidly niiirchcd in that directioa as far as "Ojo j constancy the brunt of the coi^flict. The gallant 
Agua," svhere General Smith received intelli- i bearinj; of these tv»'o generals. Pierce and Shields, 
gence that Pierce had hrus'ed away the forces | was as household words in the arym. There, to- 
that were entrenclied at La Hoya, and that he j its credit be it told that none are foui^si so insens.- 
■was movb'g rapidly down the western slope to- \ ble to honor as to breathe upon their well-earned 
"Wards Pu-^bla. I laurels a breath that could soil their freshness, or 

General Smith returned to that city with the ' wjste a leaf tl at should remain gre?n forever, 
•welcome intelligence that Fierce had fought his | 1 have now;, my dear father, in candor told yoi*. 
■way through every pass from the Puente Na- ! all that of my ov.'n observation I know of Pierce's 
clonal, and had effectually disorganized and de- | military history. Beyond this, it is known that 
feated the entire guerilla forces. His arrival at j General Scott, in his despatches, commended him 
Puebla spread satisfaction throughovi* the army, i in terms of praise, and gave him a title that he 
and a sentiment of invincibility seemed for the first j seldom mistakenly bestows — '■'••the ginllant Pierce-.''^ 
time to pervade the whole line. * * * j Were General Scott now in a position to spcaSc for 

Wo officf )■ properly regarding his military reputa- i himself, he would cause the libellers of a gallant 
tion would, when General Pierce reached Puebla, I officer, whose services greatly contributed to his 
have put it at hazard by the denial of his claim to ! glory and success, to blush- at their ill-jiidged 
•be ranked with skilful and successful generals. | attempts to stain the honor of a tried soldier and 
Again, 1 can speak of General Pierce from per- ; an eminent citizen. » * » «. 

sonal oh: ervati'^Q. On the 19th August (as you '• Pierce's modest bearing won him the vmiversal 
know) I was detached from Tvviggs's division as ; esteem of the army, and his conduct in battle that 
an advanced guard, with the command of two : (i(/e which detraction cannot alter nor thieves steal 
■ companies of the rifles, with orders from that ger- j away — " the gallant Piersz.''^ This wii.s. the christ- 
eral to clear the pedregal in front of Coniieras of i ening of Gen. Scott, the high priest of the battles 
its pickets and skirmishers, and on getting close 1 that baptised his army in blood, and whose seal 
enough to the works for a suie reconnaissant'e, to t on gallant mm time will never change. « * » 



We have thus given the testimony 
of General Pierce's companions in 
arras in Mexico. They all unite in 



send for him. This was doner, and while Gen. 

Twiegs was with me, within two hundred yards 

of the enemy's works, estimating their force and 

strength, we noticed their sudden change of guns 

and rapid firing in a new direction. In a &hort j , f * ,i <- tu •, '' • tU 

time wc observed our troops making their way | l-ilS lact tiiai iheU' OpmiOllS are ine 

through the pedregal to our lijht and rear. Not ! opinions of all the officers and men in 

knowing their purpose, we carefully watched their | j}^j^^ ^^ drama of American history. 

bearing, exposed as ihey vv'ere to one or the most ' ^,j i i i ■ r *i • 

rapidanii!t:ryfiies,from'some23guns, 1 have evGi-: We conclude the presenlation 01 this 
■Witnessed, 'p^ound shot and shells fell among j evidence With the Statement, that llO 

them like haii-stones. I'n they pressed, unchecked , ,.ggpg(.j3J3|g -^^^-^ jj^ ^]| .j^t Y),^iii\ of 

by dcstruciiou, unappalled by danger. We con- j ■"■ ,. , 

tinued anxiously regarding ttiem, until General ] tell tnoUSanU men Ca 

■ Twiggs suddenly exclair 
old third — see how beanunuiy i-.n^y oLtmu .... -qh 

This force proved to be Pierce's brigade, he lead- 1 '^^ tt ^ ^ \. ^.i . . „ .^ 

^.n; in the face of the fire I have described. No \ HoW baso lllUSt be tll;..L party jitCbS 
•nettei commentary can be ciYered to the army I and how desperate the futUre 01 that! 
than this llustration of the firmness, courage, and j ^.j ^yl^i^h descends tO snch jgnc" 
disci'jlire of Pierce's command. The regiment he t •' , . '-' 

■„:-. ■:■: ■ J. was the 9lh, commanded by the gal- I means tO achieve SllCCes;s. 



can be found, to 
limed, " By G— d, it's the 1 dispute or disprovc the evidence thus 
eautifully they stand it!" .pggj^tgj |j^ ^jjg essential particular. 



40 






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